Morris L. "Pete" Willingham

August 9, 1941 - May 8, 2018

Mr. Morris L. “Pete” Willingham, age 76, husband of Myra Davis Willingham, and a resident of Chapel Hill, passed away Tuesday morning, May 8, 2018 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A visitation will be held on Thursday from 6-8 PM at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. A graveside service will be held on Friday at 11AM at Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia, Alabama with Rudy Guess officiating. A visitation with the family will follow the graveside service at the cemetery. In the event of rain, the visiting time will be moved to First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on August 9, 1941 in Sheffield, Alabama, Pete was the son of the late Racheal “Peggy” Willingham Taylor and his step father the late Percy Taylor. He was a 1959 graduate of Cherokee High School and served his country in the United States Navy from 1960-1963 where he traveled all over the world. While serving overseas in Italy and aboard the USS Enterprise, Pete and Myra fell in love writing letters to each other. They married on June 5, 1965 and together they had three children. Pete earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Florence State College in January of 1967. He worked in insurance claims throughout his entire career before retiring. Pete was an excellent cook and loved music, dogs, reading, and SEC football.

In addition to Myra, his wife of fifty-three years, he is survived by his son: Dr. Timothy (Dr. Monica Florez) Willingham of Wellington, FL; daughters: Anne Leslie Willingham of Rockvale, TN, Elizabeth “Beth” (Ben) Marler of Chapel Hill, TN; grandchildren: Mary Ella Marler, Isabella Willingham, Charlotte Marler, Sophia Willingham, Susanna Marler; sister-in-law: Carole Davis (Bill) Phillips of Huntsville, AL; brother-in-law: Richard L. Guido of Richmond, VA; nieces: Janet Phillips, Lisa Phillips, Dare Guido Gillette; nephews: Alexander Guido, John Guido; multiple great nieces and great nephews; special cousin: Donna Lynn Willingham; aunts: Jean Willingham Love, Hazel Willingham; and uncle: Louie Willingham.

Along with his mother and step father, he was preceded in death by his sister-in-law: Mary Gail Davis Guido; and mother-in-law: Mary Ann Davis Hester.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Neighborhood Christian Center of Alabama: c/o Tim Bolding 619 Bank Street, Decatur, AL 35601, Big Fluffy Dog Rescue: P.O. Box 160237, Nashville, TN 37216, or the Agathos Classical School Library Fund: 1201 Mapleash Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401.